Quick-release seat bolts (DIY)

[Makeshift]

I've only had my XV750 for a few weeks, but coming from a BMW K75S of 6 years, I missed being able to quickly clip any luggage on and off as I needed for the day. My bike came with generic leather saddlebags which were secured under the seat, but this still required the removal of the two bolts holding the seat; which for a lazy sod like me; was still too much effort. So as I was perusing the local hardware store, I came up with an idea to replace those two allen head bolts with ones I could undo quickly by hand.

I couldn't locate any 'wing headed bolts', so I found the next best thing; 'eye bolts' in the same M6/6mm thread as the factory bolts. I made sure to get long enough bolts as I knew the left bolt needed to be longer than the right one and I would be cutting them down to length anyway.



To get the correct length to cut the bolt to, I took the length of the factory bolt, then added what length I needed to be able to access it with my fingers, but making sure it would still fit under the side cover. (I'm missing the left side cover...) Then cut as neatly as possible to avoid messing up the thread too much.



I chased the end of the bolt to clean up the threads and filed a taper into the end to help it locate into the nut inthe frame.

Last thing was to lock two nuts against each other along the bolt to create a surface that the bolt would thread 'home' to; essentially making a bolt 'head'.



On the bike...

Right side

With cover in place


Left side Cover missing)


Being an eyelet, I used a key through the loop to get some extra leverage in the bolt since bare fingers wouldn't do much more than just nip it up.

It's simple enough to do and cost me under $5. Now I can quickly throw my saddlebags on if I need to run errands or take them off in under a minute.

[Icculus]

Great tip.

[HITCAINTGRUS]

Thank you for this - I was just about to start working out a bolt arrangement for my seat!
Talk about timely - I wouldn't have come up with this!.
Off to the hardware tomorrow for me.
Many thanks!

[Jake]

Pretty neat !

[HITCAINTGRUS]

Wouldn't you know it - our hardware doesn't have them.

Closest I could get was 1/4 inch dia (that's near enough to 6mm, I think) by 3 inch long (76mm) and the eye isn't welded, just folded around and butted up against the shaft. But they are Zenith 316 stainless.

See how they go - they might do the job hopefully.

[Makeshift]

Wouldn't you know it - our hardware doesn't have them.

Closest I could get was 1/4 inch dia (that's near enough to 6mm, I think) by 3 inch long (76mm) and the eye isn't welded, just folded around and butted up against the shaft. But they are Zenith 316 stainless.

See how they go - they might do the job hopefully.

The 'eye' shouldn't make much difference as it's just a handle that allows for tool-less removal. Report back as to whether the 1/4in thread is close enough to the M6 (6mm bolt, metric thread) thread pitch to work.

Alternatively, you could just get some long M6 nuts and bolts and some M6 wingnuts and just thread the wingnut right to the head of the bolt to make a 'wing-bolt'.

[drainplug]

If they are SAE thread 1/4" DON"T DO IT! it's a different thread and will screw up the metric threads. I've seen too many bikes that people have done that. Maybe you can find a hardware/ auto parts store that can order what you need. If the 1/4" doesn't work you'll be sorry.

[HITCAINTGRUS]

No worries - might go down to the new "Masters" hardware store and see what they have in stock.
Thanks for that!
Cheers!

[HITCAINTGRUS]

I give up.
Half a day out on the road and still no go!.
Masters is a downunder hardware chain owned by LOWES.
So they didn't have any Zenith 316 stainless welded eye bolts or even the folded ones only 1/4 inch (this in a metric country).
So being metric cruisers, only 6 mm will do.
What I did manage to find was a 6mm Zenith double ended welded eye bolt turnbuckle!
So i thought what the heck - 1 turnbuckle = two eye bolts (albeit no double nuts or washers yet).
Get it home $11 later and the actual measurement of the threaded section is 5.8 mm not 6mm according to the fine print on the back of it but the front clearly says 6mm.
I'll see if it fits or not this weekend.
Talk about frustrating - an imperial country like USA can get a simple 6mm welded stainless eye bolt but not a metric country - we can only get 1/4 inch".
Oi vey... if you wanted to destroy a country this is the way to do it - 2 different measurements system - must be a communist cold war thing to weaken us, I guess.
Sadly I was born when this was still an 'imperial' country.
Wait till they metricate time... 100 minutes in an hour, 100 seconds in a minute.
I'm done... the seat can stay as it is - unattached at the front.

[drainplug]

Have you tried a boat parts place?

[HITCAINTGRUS]

Well my turnbuckle, half worked!.
Why?
Well one end of a turnbuckle is RH thread - and the second end which was to do the other side?
Yep, you guessed it left hand thread!
So now I have a 6mm hex head bolt in one said and a welded stainless eye in the other side!.
So now I can half get my seat off by hand with a key as a lever in the eyelet.
This things killin me...
BUT I did have success with my tail light issue and dash lights.
That blue wire left over inside the headlight nacell when I put the new controls on?
Well - when I start the bike and the headlight comes on... the tail light and dash lights weren't coming on!
Here's the weird bit tho - when you turn the bike off and turn the key to park lights - they do work!
Anyway, took the head light out spliced the low bean wire to the left over blue wire inside the nacell and now I have dash and tail lights when the headlight is on.
Fixed a few other minor things - split pin in the castellated nut on the rear axle - missing bolt on one of the turn signals - just small niggly stuff the examiner might pick when its inspected over the pits for licensing.
Still a few things to do.
The list however get shorter.
And I got to take her for a ride again... which is always fun now that she runs so sweet.
Guess I but another turnbuckle for another 6mm eye bolt with RH thread!.